Method of making bullets



1951 F. N. BARNES METHOD OF MAKING BULLETS 2 SHEETS SHEET 1 Filed Oct. 4, 1949 Fig.2

Fred N. Barnes INVENTOR.

BY 2A.

"Mill Oct. 16, 1951 F. N. BARNES METHOD OF MAKING BULLETS 2 SHEETS--SHEET 2 Filed Oct. 4, 1949 7 Wfi m Q 1 F Fig. /2.

Fred N. Barnes INVENTOR.

BY @Mddfim Patented Oct. 16, 195] UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,571,520 METHOD OF MAKING BULLETS Fred N. Barnes, Durango, Colo.

' Application October 4, 1949, Serial No. 119,446

r 3 Claims. l

I This invention relates to a novel and improved method of making bullets of the type wherein a lead core is provided with a copper jacket, and wherein the tapered portion of the core has a pointed end which projects from the tapered portion of the jacket.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a method by which bullets of uniform quality andcharacteristics may be economically and expeditiously produced in quantity without the exercise of a high order of skill.

Other objects and features of the invention will be apparent from the following description when considered with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 tea side elevational view showing the step of reducing copper tubing to a precise external diameter.

Figure 2 shows in elevation jacket blanks produced by cutting the reduced tubing into sections of precise length.

Figure 3 is a View partly in elevation and partly in section showing the step of reaming an end of each jacket blank.

Figure 4 is a perspective view showing the step of pouring molten lead into mold cavities to produce core blanks.

Figure 5 shows in elevation core blanks molded in accordance with Figure 4.

Figures 6 and 7 are sectional views showing a core blank in an extrusion die respectively before and after being reduced in length and increased in diameter therein to produce a nearly completed core.

Figure 8 is an elevational view of one of the nearly completed cores.

Figure 9 is an enlarged sectional view showing a nearly completed core assembled in a jacket blank.

Figures 10 to 13 inclusive and 15 are sectional views showing successive pressing steps to which the assembly of Figure 9 is subjected in dies to produce the completed bullet.

Figure 14 shows in elevation the nearly completed bullet as it appears immediately after the step shown in Figure 13.

Figure 16 shows in elevation the completed bullet.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the present method includes the step shown in Figure l, which consists of drawing a length of copper tubing 5 through a conventional reducing die 6 to reduce said tubing to a precise external di-' 2 blanks 1, shown in Figure 2. Each jacket blank 1 is then bevel reamed at one end as indicated at 8 in Figure 3, by suitable means such as an ordinary reaming tool 9.

Cylindrical lead core blanks I0 such as shown in Figure 5 are then molded in the cavities ll of a conventional mold l2 by pouring molten lead into said cavities as shown in Figure 4, and allowing the same to cool and solidify. These core blanks are of slightly greater length and lesser diameter than required for the finished bullet cores. Each core blank is then pressed in an extrusion die l3 to reduce the length and increase the diameter of said blank to produce a nearly completed core M of a precise size as will be apparent from Figures 6 to 8 inclusive. The die I3 has an opening [5 through which excess lead of the core blank is extruded as at l6, and the core blank is pressed between an ejector pin l1 and an adjustable punch [8. The punch l8 has a recess l9 so as to provide a reduced point 20 on the nearly completed core l4. Each nearly completed core M is then assembled in a jacket blank 1 as shown in Figure 9, with the point 20 near the reamed end 8, whereupon the assembled core and jacket blank are pressed in a die 2| between an ejector pin 22 and a punch 23 as shown in Figures 10 and 11 to draw the unreamed end of the jacket blank over the unpointed end of the core and provide an unfinished jacket base as' at 24. The punch 23 has a beveled shoulder 25 to engage the reamed end of the jacket blank, and a reduced end provided with a recess 26 to receive the point 20 of the core. The assembled core and jacket blank is then pressed in a die 21 between an ejector pin 28 and a punch 29, so as to partially flatten the jacket base as at 30 and to draw in the reamed end portion of the jacket blank and the adjacent portion of the core to form the tapered end portion 3| of the bullet. The pin 28 has a recess 32 to partially receive the point 26 of the core so that the latter is flanged as at 33 and projects from the jacket blank. The assembly is then pressed in a die 34 between an ejector pin 35 and a punch 36 to produce the finished bullet as shown in Figures 15 and 16. This completely flattens the base as at 31 and gives the point of the core and the adjacent portion of the jacket flush tapered external surfaces because the pin 35 has a properly shaped recess 38 to receive and shape the point of the core and the adjacent portion of the jacket.

From the foregoing description, it is believed that the nature and advantages of the present method Will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. The method of making jacketed bullets comprising cutting copper tubing of a precise external diameter into sections of precise length to produce jacket blanks, reaming one end of each jacket blank, molding cylindrical lead core blanks of slightly greater length and lesser diameter than required for the finished bullet cores, pressing each core blank in an extrusion die to reduce the length and increase the diameter thereof to produce a nearly completed core of a precise size; and provide a reduced point on one -endrofwthe.

nearly completed core, then assembling each nearly completed core in a reamed jacket blank with the point of the core near the reamed end of the jacket blank, then pressing the assembled core and jacket blank in a die to draw the unreamed end of the jacket blank over the unpointed end of the core and provides an unfinished jacket base, then pressing the assembled core and jacket blank in a second die to partially flatten the jacket base and draw in the reamed end portion of the jacket blank and the adjacent portion of the core to form the tapered end portion of the bullet with the point of the core projecting from the jacket blank, and then pressing the assembled core and jacket blank in a third die to shape the point of the core and the adjacent portions of the core and the jacket blank to give said point and the adjacent portion of the jacket blank flush tapered surfaces and to completely flatten the jacketbase.

2. The method of making jacketed bullets comprising cutting copper tubing of a precise external diameter into sections of precise length to produce jacket blanks, reaming one end of each jacket, molding cylindrical lead core blanks of slightly greater length and lesser diameter than required for the finished bullet cores, pressing each core blank in an extrustion die reducing the length and increasing the diameter thereof to produce a nearly completed core of a precise size and providing a reduced point on one end oi the nearly completed core, then assembling each nearly completed core in a reamed jacket blank with the point of the core near the reamed end of the jacket blank, then pressing the assembled core and jacket blank in a die and drawing the unreamed end of the jacket blank over the unpointed end of the core and provide an unfinished jacket base, then pressing the assembled core and jacket blank in a second die to partially flatten the jacket base and draw in the reamed end portion of the jacket blank and the adjacent portion of the core to form the V tapered end portion of the bullet with the point of the core projecting fromthe jacketblank, and then pressing the assembled; core and jacket blank in a third die to shape the point of the core and the adjacent portions of the core and the jacket blank to give said point and the adjacent portion of the jacket blank flush tapered surfaces and to completely flatten the jacket base.

3. Themethod of'making jacketed bullets comprising, cutting copper tubing of a precise exter nal diameter into sections of precise length to produce jacket blanks, reaming one endor each jacket blank, molding cylindrical lead tore blanks of slightly greater length; and lesser diameter than required for theflnished bullet cores, pressing each core blank m an-extrusion dieto reduce the length and increasethe diameterlthereof to produce a nearly completed core ot-a precisesize and provide areduced point on pneendof the nearly completed core; then assembling each nearly completed core in a ream'ed jacket blank with the point of the cOre 'neanthe reamed end of the jacket blank, then pressing the-assembled core and jacket blank ina 'dietodraw the unreamed end of the; jacket blank: over the unpointed end of the core-and provide an une finished jacket base, then pressing the assembled core and jacket blank in a second die partially flattening the jacket baseand drawing in the reamed end portion of the jacket blank and; the adjacent portioncof the core to, formthe tapered end portion of the bulletwith the point ofthe core flangedv and projecting fronnthe jacket blank,.and then pressing the. assembled core and jacket blank in a third diezto' shape the point of the core and the adjacent portions ofthe core and the jacket blank togive saidrpoint and the adjacent portion of theaiacket blank flush tapered surfaces and to. completely. flatten the jacket base. v

FRED! N. BARNES.

No references cited. 

